1964 European Nations' Cup final

International football match June 2021 1964 European Nations' Cup final The Santiago Bernabeu Stadium - U-g-g-B-o-y.jpg The Santiago Bernabéu (pictured in 2009) held the final. Santiago Bernabéu Stadium 1964 European Nations' Cup Spain ESP 1945 30px 2 Soviet Union URS 30px 1 1964 6 21 y Santiago Bernabéu Madrid Arthur Holland (England) 79,115 1960 1968 The 1964 European Nations' Cup final was a football match played at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on 21 June 1964, to determine the winners of the 1964 European Nations' Cup. It was the second final of what has since been known as the European Championship, UEFA's quadrennial football competition for national teams. The match was contested between Spain and the Soviet Union, the previous tournament winners. En route to the final, Spain defeated Romania, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland over two-legged ties, before beating Hungary in the semi-finals. The Soviet Union received a bye in the qualifying round, before beating Italy, Sweden, and Denmark en route to the final. The referee for the final, played in front of an attendance of 79,115 spectators, was Arthur Holland from England. Spain won the match 2–1 to earn their first European Championship title. Background The 1964 European Nations' Cup was the second edition of what is now called the UEFA European Football Championship, UEFA's quadrennial football competition for national teams. https://www.britannica.com/sports/European-Championship Encyclopædia Britannica European Championship 19 November 2020 10 July 2021 Adam Augustyn Melinda C. Shepherd Yamini Chauhan Michael Levy Gloria Lotha Amy Tikkanen https://web.archive.org/web/20210629092747/https://www.britannica.com/sports/European-Championship 29 June 2021 live Qualifying rounds were played on a home-and-away basis between November 1962 and May 1964. The semi-finals and final took place in Spain between 17 and 21 June 1964. A third-place play-off match took place the day before the final, in which Hungary defeated Denmark 3–1 after extra time. https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/025a-0eb1003d659d-f9d6903fa836-1000--euro-1964-all-you-need-to-know/?iv=true UEFA Euro 1964: all you need to know 13 February 2020 29 June 2021 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194806/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/025a-0eb1003d659d-f9d6903fa836-1000--euro-1964-all-you-need-to-know/?iv=true dead https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0254-0d7b2e9bc8d3-9a3d3436692a-1000--hungary-deny-denmark-third-in-extra-time/?iv=true UEFA 6 July 2021 2 October 2003 Hungary deny Denmark Euro 1964 third place in extra time 6 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210706095137/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro-2020/news/0254-0d7b2e9bc8d3-9a3d3436692a-1000--hungary-deny-denmark-third-in-extra-time/?iv=true dead The Soviet Union had won the inaugural final four years prior, defeating Yugoslavia 2–1 after extra time.O'Brien 2021 27 Spain had refused to play against the Soviet Union in the quarter-final and withdrew from the 1960 tournament, allowing their opponents a walkover.O'Brien 2021 16 In the 1962 FIFA World Cup, Spain had failed to progress beyond the group stage, losing to both Czechoslovakia and Brazil.Glanville 1993 126, 128–129 The Soviet Union went out of the competition at the quarter-final stage after suffering a 2–1 defeat by Chile.Glanville 1993 128 The 1964 European Nations' Cup Final was the first match played between the Soviet Union and Spain. https://www.11v11.com/teams/spain/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/USSR/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 29 June 2021 Spain national football team: record v USSR 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194807/https://www.11v11.com/teams/spain/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/USSR/ live Spain's manager was José Villalonga Llorente, who had been in charge at Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid before taking the national position in 1962. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17451950 Euro 1964: A forgotten Spanish triumph Mandeep Singh BBC Sport 6 July 2021 12 May 2012 7 January 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160107075350/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/17451950 live His opposite number for the Soviet Union was Konstantin Beskov, who had played in the 1940s and 1950s for Dynamo Moscow before moving into club management. He was appointed national manager in 1963. https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/konstantin-beskov-7cvzzdvrs3f Konstantin Beskov The Times 6 July 2021 8 May 2006 6 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210706090631/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/konstantin-beskov-7cvzzdvrs3f live Road to the final Spain +Spain's route to the finalRoundOppositionScorePreliminary roundRomania6–0 (H), 1–3 (A)Round of 16Northern Ireland1–1 (H), 1–0 (A)Quarter-finalRepublic of Ireland5–1 (H), 2–0 (A)Semi-finalHungary2–1 (N) Spain started their 1964 European Nations' Cup campaign in the preliminary round in which they faced Romania in a two-legged tie. The first match was held at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid on 1 November 1962 and was the first competitive fixture between Spain and Romania. In front of 51,608 supporters, Spain were 4–0 ahead inside the first twenty minutes of the match, with two goals from Vicente Guillot and one each from José Luis Veloso and Enrique Collar. Guillot completed his hat-trick with 20 minutes of the match remaining before an own goal from Ion Nunweiller sealed a 6–0 victory for Spain. https://www.11v11.com/matches/spain-v-romania-01-november-1962-228264/ 11V11.Com AFS Enterprises 29 June 2021 Spain v Romania, 01 November 1962 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194817/https://www.11v11.com/matches/spain-v-romania-01-november-1962-228264/ live The second leg was played later that month at the Stadionul 23 August in Bucharest, in front of 72,762 spectators. The home side took an early 2–0 with goals from Nicolae Tătaru and Cicerone Manolache within the opening eight minutes. Gheorghe Constantin made it 3–0 midway through the second half before Veloso scored for Spain. Despite Romania winning the match 3–1, Spain progressed to the round of 16 with a 7–3 aggregate victory. https://www.11v11.com/matches/romania-v-spain-25-november-1962-228281/ 11V11.Com 29 June 2021 AFS Enterprises Romania v Spain, 25 November 1962 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194817/https://www.11v11.com/matches/romania-v-spain-25-november-1962-228281/ live They faced Northern Ireland, the first leg taking place at the San Mamés Stadium in Bilbao on 30 May 1963 in what author Daniel O'Brien describes as "one of the great forgotten performances in Northern Ireland's history".O'Brien 2021 30 The Northern Ireland goalkeeper, Bobby Irvine, twice denied Amancio Amaro before Amaro opened the scoring on the hour-mark after an error from Alex Elder. Willie Irvine levelled the score with less than a quarter of an hour remaining and then missed an open goal minutes later, shooting over the Spain crossbar.O'Brien 2021 30 https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/3968--spain-vs-northern-ireland/?referrer=%2Fuefaeuro%2Fseason%3D1964%2Fmatches%2Fround%3D167%2Fmatch%3D3968%2Findex Spain 1–1 Northern Ireland UEFA 29 June 2021 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194811/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuro/match/3968--spain-vs-northern-ireland/?referrer=%2Fuefaeuro%2Fseason%3D1964%2Fmatches%2Fround%3D167%2Fmatch%3D3968%2Findex live The return leg was played at Windsor Park in front of 45,809 spectators on 30 October 1963. https://www.11v11.com/matches/northern-ireland-v-spain-30-october-1963-228552/ 11V11.Com AFS Enterprises 29 June 2021 Northern Ireland v Spain, 30 October 1963 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194809/https://www.11v11.com/matches/northern-ireland-v-spain-30-october-1963-228552/ live The first half ended goalless and with twenty minutes of the second half remaining, Spain took the lead. A long-range strike from Paco Gento gave them a 1–0 victory in the match and a 2–1 aggregate win.O'Brien 2021 30 Spain's opponents for the quarter-final were the Republic of Ireland with the first leg being held at the Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán Stadium in Seville on 11 March 1964. https://www.11v11.com/matches/spain-v-republic-of-ireland-11-march-1964-228644/ 11V11.Com 29 June 2021 AFS Enterprises Spain v Republic of Ireland, 11 March 1964 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194810/https://www.11v11.com/matches/spain-v-republic-of-ireland-11-march-1964-228644/ live The Republic of Ireland's team selection was compromised when Manchester United refused to allow Noel Cantwell and Tony Dunne leave to play, and with Charlie Hurley playing his third game in five days. In rainy conditions, Amancio capitalised on a mistake from Hurley to give Spain a 12th-minute lead. Josep Maria Fusté doubled his side's lead two minutes later with a 25 yd strike. Andy McEvoy reduced the deficit for the Republic of Ireland midway through the first half, but Amancio restored the two-goal lead on 30 minutes after he scored from Marcelino's cross.O'Brien 2021 33 Three minutes later, Marcelino himself scored from close range, and after McEvoy was withdrawn through injury leaving the Republic of Ireland with ten players, Spain dominated the second half. With two minutes remaining, Marcelino scored his side's fifth goal after the ball took a deflection off Hurley, to give Spain a 5–1 first leg victory.O'Brien 2021 34 Although Cantwell and Dunne were included for the return leg at Dalymount Park in Dublin, it made no difference. Spain dominated possession and though Alan Kelly made several saves, debutant Pedro Zaballa scored in both halves: a header from Carlos Lapetra's cross midway through the first half was followed by a strike from 10 yd 0 with three minutes of the match remaining. This secured a 2–0 win for Spain, a 7–1 aggregate victory, and qualification for the final tournament which they themselves would host.O'Brien 2021 34 https://www.11v11.com/matches/republic-of-ireland-v-spain-08-april-1964-228663/ 11V11.Com AFS Enterprises 29 June 2021 Republic of Ireland v Spain, 08 April 1964 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194810/https://www.11v11.com/matches/republic-of-ireland-v-spain-08-april-1964-228663/ live Spain's semi-final opposition were Hungary, whom they faced at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on 17 June 1964 in front of a crowd of 75,000. https://www.11v11.com/matches/spain-v-hungary-17-june-1964-228751/ 11V11.Com AFS Enterprises 29 June 2021 Spain v Hungary, 17 June 1964 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194815/https://www.11v11.com/matches/spain-v-hungary-17-june-1964-228751/ live For Spain, Luis del Sol, the prominent Juventus winger, was unavailable while Gento was excluded after a disagreement with manager Villalonga. Hungary were without Gyula Rákosi, János Göröcs and Károly Sándor through injury. In the 35th minute, Luis Suárez crossed the ball for Chus Pereda who headed it into the top corner with Hungary's goalkeeper Antal Szentmihályi static, to give the host nation the lead. With six minutes of the match remaining, István Nagy's shot was fumbled by Spain's goalkeeper José Ángel Iribar and Ferenc Bene scored to level the match and send it into extra time. Szentmihályi saved a shot from Amancio before Marcelino headed Lapetra's corner goal-bound and Amancio diverted the ball into the Hungary goal in the 112th minute to give Spain a 2–1 victory and progression to the tournament final.O'Brien 2021 39 Soviet Union +The Soviet Union's route to the finalRoundOppositionScorePreliminary roundByeRound of 16Italy2–0 (H), 1–1 (A)Quarter-finalSweden1–1 (A), 3–1 (H)Semi-finalDenmark3–0 (N) The Soviet Union's European Nations' Cup campaign saw them receive a bye in the preliminary round so their first match was their round-of-16 tie against Italy. The match took place at the Central Lenin Stadium in Moscow on 13 October 1963 in front of a crowd of more than 102,000 and was the first competitive between the sides. Midway through the first half, Viktor Ponedelnik gave the Soviet Union the lead, and three minutes before half-time, Igor Chislenko scored to make it 2–0. https://www.11v11.com/matches/ussr-v-italy-13-october-1963-228533/ 11V11.Com AFS Enterprises 29 June 2021 USSR v Italy, 13 October 1963 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194811/https://www.11v11.com/matches/ussr-v-italy-13-october-1963-228533/ live The second leg was played at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome a month later with an attendance of almost 70,000. https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-ussr-10-november-1963-228563/ 11V11.Com AFS Enterprises 29 June 2021 Italy v USSR, 10 November 1963 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194812/https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-ussr-10-november-1963-228563/ live Gennadi Gusarov gave the Soviet Union a first-half lead before Lev Yashin saved a penalty from Sandro Mazzola.O'Brien 2021 31 Gianni Rivera equalised for Italy in the 89th minute, but the match ended 1–1 with the Soviet Union winning 3–1 on aggregate to qualify for the quarter-finals. They faced Sweden with the first leg being played at the Råsunda Stadium in Stockholm on 13 May 1964. After a goalless first half, the dominance of the Soviet Union finally resulted in a goal when Valentin Ivanov scored in the 62nd minute. Failing to capitalise on other chances to score, the Soviet Union conceded the equalising goal with two minutes of the match remaining when Kurt Hamrin struck the ball past Yashin to secure a 1–1 draw. https://www.11v11.com/matches/sweden-v-ussr-13-may-1964-228701/ 11V11.Com AFS Enterprises 29 June 2021 Sweden v USSR, 13 May 1964 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194812/https://www.11v11.com/matches/sweden-v-ussr-13-may-1964-228701/ live O'Brien 2021 35 The sides met two weeks later at the Central Lenin Stadium in front of almost 100,000 spectators and Yashin received the 1963 Ballon d'Or award on the pitch before the match.O'Brien 2021 35 Ponedelnik opened the scoring for the Soviet Union when he ran with the ball before shooting between Arne Arvidsson's legs to make it 1–0 after 32 minutes, before doubling his and his side's tally 11 minutes into the second half with a 25 yd on strike. Hamrin scored past Yashin in the 78th minute before Valery Voronin shot the ball through Arvidsson's legs following a pass from Ponedelnik. The match ended 3–1 and 4–2 on aggregate to the Soviet Union who progressed to the semi-finals in Spain.O'Brien 2021 35–36 https://www.11v11.com/matches/ussr-v-sweden-27-may-1964-228730/ 11V11.Com AFS Enterprises 29 June 2021 USSR v Sweden, 27 May 1964 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701194812/https://www.11v11.com/matches/ussr-v-sweden-27-may-1964-228730/ live They faced Denmark at the Camp Nou in Barcelona on 17 June 1964 in front of 38,556 spectators. https://www.11v11.com/matches/denmark-v-ussr-17-june-1964-228750/ 11v11 AFS Enterprises 29 June 2021 Denmark v USSR, 17 June 1964 1 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210701195607/https://www.11v11.com/matches/denmark-v-ussr-17-june-1964-228750/ live Denmark had enforced an "amateur-only" policy to their side which meant that Erik Sørensen, Kai Johansen and Harald Nielsen were no longer available having signed professional contracts, while Jens Petersen and John Madsen were also otherwise engaged. The Soviet Union dominated the early stages, Voronin opening the scoring midway through the first half from a corner before Ponedelnik beat Leif Nielsen in the Denmark goal with a strike five minutes before half-time. Late in the second half, Ivanov beat three Denmark defenders before scoring his side's third, and the Soviet Union won 3–0 to progress to their second consecutive European Nations' Cup final.O'Brien 2021 40 Match upright|thumb|alt=Konstantin Beskov|Konstantin Beskov (pictured in 1982) was appointed manager of the Soviet Union team in 1963. Pre-match The referee for the match was Arthur Holland,O'Brien 2021 45 who became the second Englishman to officiate a European Nations' Cup Final after Arthur Ellis had fulfilled the role in the previous tournament. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35099625 Euro 2016: British referee trio selected by Uefa BBC Sport 6 July 2021 15 December 2015 6 July 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210706090630/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35099625.amp live Before the match, Francisco Franco led future king of Spain Juan Carlos I onto the pitch while Yashin met his childhood hero Ricardo Zamora prior to kick-off. The Soviet Union had won the pre-match coin toss and as such were playing in their usual red-and-white kit while Spain wore dark blue shirts.O'Brien 2021 43 Summary The final was played at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid on 21 June 1964 in front of 79,115 spectators.O'Brien 2021 45 Spain's Suárez struck an early free kick over the Spain crossbar before his pass to Marcelino was cut out by Yashin. In the sixth minute, Suárez dispossessed Ivanov, took the ball past Eduard Mudrik and, after making a one-two with Lapetra, crossed for Pereda who scored to give Spain a 1–0 lead. Two minutes later, Viktor Anichkin passed to Galimzyan Khusainov down the left side of the pitch, and his weak shot was mishandled by the Spain goalkeeper Iribar to allow the equaliser. Despite the two early goals, the remainder of the half saw both sides competing in the midfield with several misplaced passes and fouls, although Yashin saved shots from both Pereda and Fusté before Iribar kept Chislenko's attempt out.O'Brien 2021 43Kier 2018 84 In the early stages of the second half, Spain began to dominate but missed several chances to score. Amancio struck the ball into the side netting before he then ran clear of the Soviet Union defence and passed to Marcelino, whose shot was tipped over the Soviet Union crossbar by Yashin.Kier 2018 84 Chislenko then beat three Spain defenders before being brought down by Ignacio Zoco, but the referee allowed play to continue. Voronin then clashed with Suárez who appeared to be injured in the exchange, before the Soviet Union player saw his low shot pushed behind by Iribar.O'Brien 2021 43 On the hour mark, Iribar saved a shot from Ponedelnik, and twelve minutes later Pereda was brought down by Anichkin. Despite Spain's strong appeals for a penalty, the referee awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Soviet Union penalty area, which came to nothing. With six minutes of the match remaining, Feliciano Rivilla passed to Pereda who first beat Anichkin and then sent in a cross, which Viktor Shustikov was unable to clear, allowing Marcelino a header for the winning goal inside the near post.Kier 2018 84 Spain won the match 2–1 to claim their first European Championship title.O'Brien 2021 43 Details 1964 6 21 y 18:30 CET ESP 1945 1964 European Nations' Cup final tournament#Final 2–1 1964 European Nations' Cup final Report, lineupsMarch 2025 medicmedic URS Pereda 6 Marcelino 84 Khusainov 8 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid 79,115 Arthur Holland (England) _esp1959a _esp1986 1158A3 1158A3 1158A3 1158A3 000000 Spain _Soviet_Union _2whitestripes FF0000 FF0000 FF0000 FFFFFF FF0000 Soviet Union GK 1 José Ángel IribarRB 2 Feliciano RivillaCB 5 Ferran Olivella (c)LB 3 Isacio CallejaRH 4 Ignacio ZocoLH 6 Josep Maria FustéOR 11Carlos LapetraIR 10Luis SuárezCF 9 Marcelino MartínezIL 8 Chus PeredaOL 7 AmancioManager:José Villalonga300px GK 1 Lev YashinRB 6 Viktor AnichkinCB 2 Viktor ShustikovCB 3 Albert ShesternyovLB 4 Eduard MudrikCM 5 Valery VoroninCM 10Alexey KorneyevRW 7 Igor ChislenkoLW 11Galimzyan KhusainovCF 8 Valentin Ivanov (c)CF 9 Viktor PonedelnikManager:Konstantin Beskov Post-match All but three of UEFA's team of the tournament had featured in the final, including six Spain and two Soviet Union players. Beskov was dismissed upon his return to Moscow following a meeting with Nikita Khrushchev who had been "incensed" that images of celebrating Franco had been broadcast live in the Soviet Union. Spain's Iribar said "When we won, we were full of joy, we were so into it. Then a few days passed and we realised that if we'd lost, the situation would have been so different. It was a game we had to win at all costs, otherwise there would have been a hunt for culprits. Some players would never have been picked again. We would've gone from heroes to zeros."O'Brien 2021 44 After the match, Franco received the winning side at the Royal Palace of El Pardo.O'Brien 2021 45 The Soviet Union were knocked out in the second qualifying round of the 1964 Summer Olympics by East Germany: a tiebreaker was required after both legs of the match ended 1–1, and East Germany progressed with a 4–1 victory. Spain also failed to qualify for the final tournament in Tokyo, losing 5–1 on aggregate to Hungary. https://www.rsssf.org/tableso/ol1964q.html Games of the XVIII. Olympiad Mikael Jönsson 10 April 2015 RSSSF 6 July 2021 3 March 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205402/http://www.rsssf.com/tableso/ol1964q.html live Villalonga was dismissed from his post two years later after suffering defeats against West Germany and Argentina during Spain's failure to progress past the group stage of the 1966 FIFA World Cup.O'Brien 2021 45 The Soviet Union beat North Korea, Italy and Chile in their group stage. After defeating Hungary, they lost to West Germany in the semi-final and were defeated by Portugal in the third-place play-off. https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1966england/match-center FIFA 30 June 2021 1966 FIFA World Cup England https://web.archive.org/web/20210719112352/https://www.fifa.com/tournaments/mens/worldcup/1966england/match-center 19 July 2021 live See also Soviet Union at the UEFA European Championship Spain at the UEFA European Championship References Bibliography The Story of the World Cup Brian Glanville Brian Glanville Faber and Faber Limited 978-0-571-16979-5 1993 1973 London The European Championship – A Complete History (Part 1: 1960–1976) Richard Kier Rowanvale Books Ltd 978-1-9115-6967-1 2018 Cardiff Euro Summits: The Story of the UEFA European Championship Jonathan O'Brien Pitch Publishing 978-1-78531-849-8 2021 Worthing External links 1964 European Nations' Cup official website Final Final 1964 1964 Final 1964 Final Category:Soviet Union–Spain relations 1964 1964 1964 1964 Final Final Category:Football competitions in Madrid European Nations' Cup Final Category:1960s in Madrid Category:Football in Madrid